Paying donors won't end egg and sperm crisis, says doctor

Britain's sperm and egg shortage will not be solved by paying donors, a leading fertility expert warned today.

Dr Kamal Ahuja, from the London Women's Clinic, says women who donate to childless couples also face "potentially serious risks" such as cancer, and cash incentives could never compensate for this.

Studies have suggested a possible link between fertility drugs used to stimulate egg production and breast or ovarian cancer.

He said: "Payment, whether as compensation for time and trouble, or even the larger amounts reported from some countries, makes no recognition of the potentially serious risk of developing cancer.

It is unsubstantiated and naive to assume money will resolve the crisis. Our datum shows a reliable supply of donor sperm can be generated through targeted and caring campaigns.

"A campaign to solicit donor eggs through payment has a high chance of failure and it may be putting some donors at risk." Tomorrow the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will decide if donors should get a one-off payment of up to £800. These payments already exist in other European nations such as Spain.

It follows concerns that couples are being forced to go abroad in their quest to be parents. Current law does not allow payment, but clinics can refund expenses and loss of earnings. There is a £250 limit for each cycle of egg donation or course of sperm donation.

Some experts, including Dr Ahuja, believe the proposed change could breach EU guidelines that donations should be "voluntary and unpaid". He backs schemes where women get IVF in return for giving eggs to others.

In Bio News, Dr Ahuja writes: "An estimated annual requirement for 500 sperm donors in the UK could be easily met without excessive payments." HFEA chairwoman Professor Lisa Jardine said: "We want to ensure we have the best policies so there are no unnecessary barriers in the way of those wishing to donate, while protecting those born as a result of donation."